It sounds like your air filter needs to be replaced. I would also check the spark plug to see if there is carbon deposits on it. The socket to remove the spark plug is a 13/16 and it needs to be a deep well socket. This should get the unit back to running condition. The air filter part number is 17211-zl8-023 for a square air filter. If you do not have a square air filter, you will need to take your model number off of the engine (ie Gx160 GJAEA-1111111 and above this is another number like QX2). You can locate the model information by looking at the side of the engine with the dipstick on it. It may be covered with part of the fuel tank/ flywheel housing. It will be stamped into the metal. Any Honda Power Equipment dealer should be able to get the air filter for you.
DO NOT use a briggs and stratton air filter. Dirt can leak past the foam seal and can damage your carburetor and could possibly lead to engine failure.

1 Suggested Answer

Hi,
a 6ya expert can help you resolve that issue over the phone in a minute or two.
best thing about this new service is that you are never placed on hold and get to talk to real repairmen in the US.
the service is completely free and covers almost anything you can think of (from cars to computers, handyman, and even drones).
click here to download the app (for users in the US for now) and get all the help you need.goodluck!

Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.

That is not a simple answer, You would need to continue the cleaning into the carburetor. Make sure your float and needle valve are not stuck. pull the bowl off the carb to see if any gas is in the bowl. if not the chances are that the float is stuck.

lawn mower trouble shooting, no start First check the air filter. Is it getting air and gas? If not lets find out why.1. Air Filters; There are 2 types. One is made of paper and the other is made of foam. NOTE: (Whenever you lift your lawnmower for any reason disconnect your spark plug and ground it.) NOTE: Do not run your engine or any engine without the air filter, it will RUIN the motor. When lifting your lawnmower on its side, always lift it with the carburetor up. A little oil Will come out, but not enough to hurt anything. If you lift your lawnmower with the carburetor down oil & gas will go everywhere. If your air filter is made of paper the oil & gas will ruin it. If not you will have to clean your foam one.

a. Paper filters cannot be cleaned with gas or any solvent, you can only use compressed air to blow the dirt out. If it's very dirty, it's best to replace.b. Foam filters can be cleaned with dish washing liquid and water and dried with a rag. Then very liberally, work new engine oil throughout the air filter and squeeze out excess. The oil in the filter is what traps the dirt. If your foam filter is deteriorating or coming apart replace it, it can ruin your engine. Clean every 25 hours under normal conditions. Note: Use the same type of engine oil you use in your small engine to lightly oil your filter.2. Check your gas cap. The gas cap is a source of ventilation for the fuel tank. If your gas cap is clogged it will make your fuel tank vapor lock, and you will have no gas flow. To check and see if the gas cap is bad, loosen the gas cap and see if it will run longer than before you loosened the gas cap. If it continues running, you need to replace the cap, if it does not continue running check further in this troubleshooting guide for more information.3. Is the fuel line clogged or partially clogged? Example: when you disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor and the gas is steadily flowing there is not a problem. But if it only drips with a full tank of gas replace it after checking the gas cap.4. Do you have a fuel cut off? If so, is it cut on?5. Do you have a gas filter? If so is it clear? If not, replace it.6. Is the gas flowing in to the carburetor? If not you could have a piece of trash in the needle & seat. The needle & seat controls the gas flow that starts & stops the gas. You will have to clean or replace. It's best to replace.7. The float controls the gas level in the carburetor. If any of these signs occur, the carburetor is overflowing out of your air filter or out of your primer. If you have gas in your oil, you have carburetor problems. NOTE: Drain the oil if there is gas in it, if you don't it can be dangerous. You need to check the needle & seat to see if it has trash or is bad. Is your float bad? To check the float pull the pin that holds your float in place, shake the float and if there is fluid inside of the float, replace it. Don't forget to set the float level.
8. Carburetors with primers represent a large majority of lawnmower and small engines today. They have primers to push or force air in the carburetor and in turn force gas through the center jet to make starting easier. Then look to see if the primer is pumping gas in to the engine.9. Things to check for if the primer is not working. This applies to several different types of engines. Check for holes or tears if you have a carburetor that has a diaphragm. (A diaphragm is a gas pump located in carburetors that have the gas tank and carburetors assembled together.) Replace the diaphragm if the diaphragm has a hole or has hardened or slightly slid over to one side, or if the engine will not run correctly and is skipping, not priming, or will not run at all. If you have a float type carburetor, the bowl gasket Will not be sealed properly and air will leak past the bowl gasket and will not prime. If you have a air assembly primer box where the air filter box is connected to carburetor, your gasket Will not be sealing correctly. If there is a tear or a hole in the gasket, air will leak past it and will not force air in the carburetor which will not force gas through the center jet. Also your air assembly box Will have a crack and will be warped because it was over tightened. If so, replace it.10. Some models have chokes. Chokes are used to draw gas through the center jet to run. If the choke is not working properly and it is not closing all the way the engine cannot draw gas through the center jet and will not crank.
11. The throttle cable is what operates the choke on some models and the primer on some others, but it works the speed of the engine. To adjust the throttle that works the choke you need to loosen the throttle and open the throttle all the way, then push it until the choke is closed all the way. To adjust a "speed only" open the throttle all the way and make sure that the engine speed will be all the way open and then tighten the cable back up on the engine. Make sure if you have a kill switch on the throttle cable, that it works when you lower the speed all the way. If not, adjust again. Carburetors: Carburetors are the cause of 99% of all small engine problems. Carburetors are the easiest thing to repair on small engines.We have videos to that will help you in the repair of your Lawn Mower and Small Engine

Section 2 Troubleshooting safety switch system1. Spark. There are several things that would keep a lawnmower or small engine from sparking like the safety switches. Lawnmowers and small engines have several different locations where the safety switches Will be. If your lawnmower or small engine doesn't spark you need to get your owner's manual and find out where your safety switches are and then try to trace the problem.2. Oil sensor. If you have one ... The oil sensor will make your lawnmower or small engine quit running until you fill it with oil to the "full level." This will cause the engine not to spark because of the oil being low. NOTE: This is a safety feature to protect your engine from running out of oil.3. Stop cable or blade brake. This cable is connected to the handle bar and you have to hold the handle bar down for your engine to run. This cable becomes stretched after some time and needs to be replaced. There is a safety switch on the other end of that cable, on the motor, that Will not be opening all the way and in turn, not letting the engine spark.4.Coils. Lawnmowers and small engines have changed a lot in the last 15 years. 99% of all lawnmowers and small engines today have electronic ignition coils which means no points. When you start your lawnmower or small engine and it runs until it gets hot and won't start back again until it cools off you Will have a bad coil.

Hey Julie! It could definitely be something with the fuel float in your carburetor, or as you said, it could be the carburetor in general. You could get a carburetor rebuild kilt and remove the carburetor again, clean it, and rebuild it with new parts, or, you could just go ahead and get a new carburetor, as a dirty or cracked carburetor can also cause a leak of this type. It's really your call on which you want to do! if neither of these fix your problem you may want to take it back to the shop again. Best of luck!

According to Amie Taylor on http://homeguides.sfgate.com/lawnmower-revs-up-down-100220.html
"Airflow Issues
A lawnmower that hunts and surges may be experiencing something as simple as an airflow issue. If the air that the engine requires to run is blocked, especially sporadically, it can cause the engine to slow down. When the blockage moves or clears, the engine may suddenly rev up in response. To fix this type of problem, check the air filter to ensure that it's not clogged with dirt and debris. Check the vented gas cap as well. Both issues can cause reduced or sporadic air flow, and clearing them will fix the problem.
Spark Plug Problems
Another problem that can cause revving and dying of a lawnmower engine is a faulty or poorly adjusted spark plug. Check the spark plug to see if the wire is connected to it firmly and not wobbling about. If it is connected correctly, remove the spark plug to see if it's covered with corrosion. If so, a simple scrubbing with a wire brush can restore it to working order. If necessary, replace the spark plug with a new one. Check the spark plug gap with a spark plug gauge to ensure that it's adjusted to the proper setting recommended in your owner's manual.
Carburetor Adjustment
A carburetor that's incorrectly adjusted is a common cause of poor engine idling that results in hunting and surging. Fortunately, most lawnmowers have two screws that allow you to adjust the carburetor yourself. One screw controls the idle speed while the other adjusts the idle mixture. Check the manual if you're unsure of the location of the idle adjustment screws. Start the mower and allow it to run for 5 minutes. Then slowly adjust the screws tighter or looser in turn until the mower runs and idles smoothly.
Fuel Problems
A particularly simple fix that can be at the bottom of many lawnmower idling problems is old or contaminated fuel. If the fuel has been left in the mower while it was stored over the winter or while the mower has remained unused, drain it and replace it with fresh fuel. If you have gas-powered blowers and trimmers that use a mixture of 2-cycle oil and gasoline, check to see that you've not placed that mixture in the lawnmower inadvertently."

To adjust your idle speed there is a single screw (usually with a black plastic knob ) that hangs down between the two carburetors. Turning the knob will raise or lower the idle speed. Clockwise will raise the idle. Counter clockwise will lower the idle. Changing the idle speed will not lean or richen the mixture. To change the mixture you will have to rejet the carburetors. I assume the carburetors have been rejetted to compensate for an after market exhaust system. In which case the carburetors are set too rich (too big of a main jet size) to compensate for a bad flat spot in the acceleration. If this is the case, take out the main jets and replace them with the next smaller size. If the machine is stock then check your air cleaner. If it is restricted/dirty, then the extra vacuum caused by the dirty air filter is causing the rich mixture. Try changing the air filter or in stall a high flow air filter like a K&N. This will put the mixture back to normal.

Generally this indicates a "lean" condition in the carburetor and there are no adjustments. Depending on your abilities, the best fix is to remove the carburetor and clean all the metering passages/jets. In some cases you are better off just replacing the carburetor. I have seen some Honda carbs. as low as $15-$20. Hope this helps to some degree.